Tuesday, May 6, 2014

A recent article in the journal Turkish Neurosurgery described how medical surgeons benefited from Kinesiotaping. Surgeons are at unique risk for developing job-related musculoskeletal symptoms. Because of their work demands, surgeons tend toward awkward body postures, increased muscle tension, prolonged static forward head posture, and repetitive motion of the arms and hands. These factors, coupled with ergonomic difficulties, including inappropriate operating table height create a heightened risk for repetitive stress injuries in medical surgeons.

This recent study examined the pain reducing effects of Kinesiotaping on medical surgeons.

32 surgeons between the ages of 27 and 44 yrs working in a university hospital were included. The Visual Analog Scale (VAS) was used to evaluate the surgeons' neck and low back pain and the Oswestry Low Back and Neck Disability Indexes were used to determine the impact of pain on daily living activities. First, surgeons were evaluated without Kinesiotape application, then evaluated again on the first day and fourth day of Kinesiotape application.

RESULTS:

The results showed that surgeons had a significant reduction in neck and low back pain(p < 0.05). There were improvements in both Oswestry Low Back Disability Index and Neck Disability Index scores when compared with their initial status (p < 0.05). After Kinesiotape application, neck and low back range of motions' scores showed an increase (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION:

Findings demonstrated that Kinesio taping would be an effective method for reducing neck and low back pain and improving functional performance.

Surgeons who participated in this study, indicated that when they compared the days without tape to the days with tape, they felt they had an invisible support on their back. They also indicated that they felt very relaxed. Even after the study was concluded, the surgeons who participated requested Kinesiotaping before long operations!

This information is brought to you by the only Certified Kinesio Taping Practitioner (CKTP) in SW Montana. Dr Jonathan Wilhelm DC, CCEP, CKTP had been advanced certified by Kinesiotaping International. To learn more about Kinesiotaping and Dr Wilhelm visit us herewww.prochiromt.com